1. How do we effectively measure impact?

Although this theme is one I've seen before, the discussion feels more mature now. There is less talk about whether to measure impact and more talk about how to do it effectively. The “how” continues to be challenging, both in public and private investments. Best practices are focusing on materiality, and looking at impact holistically to consider the various communities each investment affects and what positive impact looks like to those communities.

The most common advice I share with clients is “share stories!” I love helping people tell impact investing stories and if you’ve heard me speak at a conference before, you’ve likely heard me tell this story of my first involvement with impact investing.

Last month I wrote about the important distinction between SRI and ESG. Today I'm continuing on that theme and answering one of the questions I get about terminology: what is impact investing and why do you use that term?

Almost every conference or panel discussion about impact or sustainable investing starts with a discussion of terminology. While it's annoying that we have to start all of our conversations with a discussion about semantics, that discussion is incredibly important.

Pat Miguel Tomaino is the director of socially responsible investing at Zevin Asset Management and is a leader in using shareholder advocacy to advance racial and gender justice initiatives.

We met recently at an impact investing event in Philadelphia and I’m excited to include his recent impact investing success story in my series of interviews.

If the work you are doing is even tangentially related to impact investing, you’ve likely heard chatter about the SDGs, which is short for the UN Sustainable Development Goals. I mentioned them as one of the top themes I saw in 2017, and they continue to come up at every impact focused event I attend. So let’s do a quick catch up. What are the SDGs, why are impact investing professionals talking about them, and what’s next?

I don't know about you, but sometimes it feels hard or even superficial to focus on work while seeing the heartbreaking stories of immigrant families being separated at the border. But how do we also leverage our positions in financial services to make pragmatic steps forward with the financial levers available to us? I have some thoughts.

Marian Wright Edelman says, “you can’t be what you can’t see.” It’s tough to stay in a field (let alone advance) when there are no colleagues or leaders who look like you. It’s not just that you can’t see the path to the top, it’s also that peers and managers can’t imagine “someone like you” as a leader.

One of the things I often speak and write about is the lack of diversity in financial services. We’re not even close to reflecting the racial, ethnic, or gender diversity of the United States. Today I want to share one relatively easy starting point where each of us can make an impact and push our companies and colleagues towards improvement.

I distinctly remember my mom preparing to ask for a raise so that she would be earning the same salary as her male physical therapist peers. I even remember the number; she asked for a 12% raise and equity participation. Her boss said no. What I don’t remember is seeing her feeling dejected, which she must have felt. Maybe she hid that for the benefit of us kids; I was 8, my brother 5. What I do remember is her being frustrated, then angry, then resolute. She was going to quit and start her own business.

Over the past year a number of people have asked me, “do you know Cat Berman?” and I didn’t know her…until recently. I ran into her at a conference in March and, as predicted by our mutual acquaintances, we hit it off immediately. Catherine, “Cat” Berman is the co-founder, and CEO of CNote, an impact savings platform. Today I’m thrilled to share an impact success story from CNote. Read on for this inspirational story of a product from a cancer patient turned inventor.

It was my pleasure to chat with Betsy Moszeter, COO of Green Alpha. The impact story from this interview is an alternative energy play. Read on to see the interesting ways that this forward looking manufacturing company has been able to use their technology for more than just wind energy. Also, you’ll get to hear more about Betsy, her path to impact investing, her thoughts on stock buybacks, and her favorite hike.

Kristin Hull is the Founder, CEO, and CIO of Nia Impact Capital. She and I have known each other through the impact investing field for many years; but it wasn’t until I sat down with her for this interview that I got to know more of her fascinating personal story. Read on for that as well as an interesting success story about one of her favorite solution-based investments.

Research has shown that corporate policies that foster inclusive workplaces by supporting LGBT employees lead to more positive business outcomes, lower staff turnover, and increased job satisfaction and productivity. Read how Brianna Murphy of Trillium used the shareholder engagement process to push for LGBT workplace protections at JB Hunt.

Recently, I got to pay a visit to a long time friend and mentor of mine, Gloria Nelund, Chairman & CEO of TriLinc Global. Gloria is a leader and innovator in the impact investing space so I was thrilled to talk to her about the impact investing "a-ha" moment she had partway through her career as well as the details of a recent international lending success she's particularly proud of.

Last month I caught up with Matthew Blume, the Director of ESG Research and Shareholder Advocacy at Appleseed Capital. I wanted to chat with him about the idea of shorting stocks of “bad actor” companies, an idea that logically follows from some of the impact investing theories, but is not frequently utilized.

I had a launch party for Solutions With Sonya on Thursday. Great views, delicious food, and a friendly crowd. Thanks to everyone who came out to support.

Impact Investing Success Story: Estée Lauder and Investing in Gender Equality | In conversation with Joe Keefe of Pax World Funds

Last week I spoke with Joe Keefe, Impact Investing leader, and President & CEO of Pax World Funds. We talked about where he sees impact investments driving change, and he shared a recent favorite impact investing success story.